Aggressive beagle

[luckyduck19]

I'd appreciate some opinions on my beagle's behaviour. He's three years old and has always been a little bit aggressive if he gets something that he shouldn't and you try to take it off him. The first time was when he was about a year old and grabbed some frozen chicken that dropped out the freezer when I put something else in. I immediately tried to take it off him and he bared his teeth and snarled at me. This has now happened time and again. Any time he snatches something he immediately gets defensive and aggressive and if you try and take it off him he snarls and goes to bite. He'll also jump up at me and snarl which frightens me quite a lot. He's getting worse and tonight when I caught him with his nose in the bin I told him firmly 'no' and he just over to my snarling and knocked me over, all the while growling and baring his teeth. I managed get him into his crate by throwing in a treat and then quickly shutting over the door but I had to hold the door shut with my foot to lock it as he was snarling and pushing against the door the whole time.

I have contacted a local behaviour specialist and will speak to them tomorrow to arrange for them to come round and see him. he was at the vets last week for a general check over and all seemed well. It seems like the older he gets, the more anxious he gets and the more aggressive he gets.

We went through puppy training when he was younger but he's always been very stubborn and this is now becoming unbearable. I love him to bits, he's a member of the family but I have two young dc and I'm getting scared of what might happen if this can't be corrected. I'll arrange an appointment with the trainer tomorrow but I just feel awful about it all.

Has anyone been through something similar? Did it turn out okay? I'm prepared to do any training that will help but I can't put my dc at risk? Don't know what to do.

I should add that 95% of the time he's an absolute joy. But this small part of his behaviour is taking over and making me fear him.

Don't show him any fear to start he wil pick upon it. If any of my dogs including a Beagle get what I call grumpy I give them a quick sharp tap on their nose this normally works and shows who is in charge. It sounds to me as though he is picking up on your fear and trying it on. You need to be more firm with him and remember not to show your fear.

PLEASE do not hit this dog. You will get bitten and you will make the problem worse. This is nothing to do with fear.

It sounds like a common, simple resource guarding problem which has not been addressed and he has learned that aggression is an effective way of protecting things he values highly. It isn't insurmountable but you absolutely do need professional input here. Firstly you must ensure the person you are bringing in to help is appropriately qualified. Look for APBC or APDT members. There are an awful lot of people out there calling themselves behaviourists with no qualifications, and with outdated ideas about dog behaviour (like Tillypo above, whose advice is plain dangerous). I cannot emphasise enough the importance of getting the right person.

In the meantime it is important you do not give this dog "exciting" food or treats. Feed plain kibble, in a locked room or under direct supervision, when your children are out of the way. Do not approach the dog while it eats. I have a great protocol for dealing with food guarding which I would happily share with you but fromyour description you need professional one to one help before this situation degenerates further.

This is nothing to do with your fear, I should have said.

There's a difference between HITTING a dog and giving it a TAP. You made it sound as though I abuse my dog.

Totally agree with DeathByLaundry, this particular problem needs professional help. Your advice is dangerous Tillypo, if the owner taps this dog on the nose, she WILL get bitten.

Resource guarding is a simple problem to over come but in the mean time, no one is to disturb him While he is eating and high value foods should be limited to in his crate and he needs to be totally undisturbed until he is finished with it.

I cannot stress enough how important it is that the OP makes sure anyone she calls in is APDT/APBC qualified.

Well I have had 5 dogs in 20 years still got 3 of them 2 have died. If they have ever growled at me I have always tapped them on the nose and not once have I ever been bitten.

Just because it worked for you doesn't make it right. You should NEVER punish a dog for growling, ever. It is a dogs first line in communicating that he/she is not happy. Punish the dog out of growling and it has no option but to go straight to a bite. A very dangerous thing for a human to do to a dog. wildewmn.wordpress.com/2013/10/22/why-growling-is-good/

I have a beagle. They can be very possessive of food. We were told to swap with another treat rather than just take. It's positive then rather than just having it taken. Not ideal but beagles can be very stubborn. Also beagles are notorious thieves. We have had to put our bin in a cupboard.

Tillypo I am a vet and see hundreds of dogs a week, many of which will growl at me. I can assure you that tapping, striking or otherwise threatening an already growling dog is idiotic and will worsen the problem in the future. Not only does the dog learn that growling isn't heeded and so a bite is necessary to convey their meaning, but their anxiety levels are massively increased in similar situations in the future because they associate them with pain or fear. There is no rationale or justification for "tapping" a dog on the nose. Ever.

OP, do let us know how you get on.

Tillypo, you have been lucky. Nothing more than that.

To encourage someone who is already experiencing growling, snarling and similarly aggressive behaviour to physically reprimand their dog is grossly irresponsible and downright dangerous. To ask them to bop the dog on the nose and therefore thrust their hand right next to the sharp teeth is laughably stupid

OP, please ignore the well meaning advice of strangers on the internet and get some professional, qualified advice. I'm sure it will be easily sorted in the right hands.